The Swallow and the Titmouse

Original title: L'hirondelle et la mésange

1924
1h 20m

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Jane Maylianes in The Swallow and the Titmouse (1924)

A bargeman, his wife and sister-in-law navigate the canals of northern Belgium in their two vessels, the eponymous "L'Hirondelle et la Mésange," taking the time to appreciate the sites and l... Read allA bargeman, his wife and sister-in-law navigate the canals of northern Belgium in their two vessels, the eponymous "L'Hirondelle et la Mésange," taking the time to appreciate the sites and landscapes they encounter along their way. Like many in his trade, the mariner supplements ... Read allA bargeman, his wife and sister-in-law navigate the canals of northern Belgium in their two vessels, the eponymous "L'Hirondelle et la Mésange," taking the time to appreciate the sites and landscapes they encounter along their way. Like many in his trade, the mariner supplements his income by transporting occasional contraband. The tranquil rhythms of their nautical l... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

252

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Once shown by The Cinema Club in Paris at a special showing at the Colisée in 1923.

Connections
Featured in Permeke (1985)

User reviews3

Featured review

River of no return

On the canals in the north of France and in Belgium,Pierre has got two barges.He is helped by his wife Marthe and his sister-in-law,Griet.

Deemed "not commercial enough" ,"L'Hirondelle et la Mésange" was indefinitely shelved and never released .It was 1982 before Henri Colpi ("Une Aussi Longue Absence" ) edited the negatives ;they added music which is splendid :the accordion sometimes sounds like an organ.

It is sure easy to see the reason why the film was never theatrically released.It's almost a documentary,with a plot kept to the minimum.However,the pictures are splendid ,sometimes worthy of a Jacques Brel song (such as "le Plat Pays"),taking us to Belgian ancient magnificent towns..Entirely shot on location,it was a movie ahead of its time.

The plot is minimal,and the story line really happens only in the last third. Paul's desire is filmed in a disturbing way:it includes voyeurism,fetishism (the bandages),rape attempt.It's a far cry from a romantic love affair on the quiet waters of a canal.And ,it's the last straw (and probably one of the reasons the producers decided to leave it in the cans),the ending is thoroughly immoral!

Like this?Try this.....

"L'Atalante "aka "Le Chaland qui Passe" Jean Vigo 1933-34